In chapter 2 Scout is sad that Dill is leaving for yet another year. Scout is sad because as she grows up she is becoming more and more “lady like” and is starting to have a crush on Dill. Even though Scout seem’s to think that she is never going to grow up and like boys she gradually likes Dill more and more. Although Scout is sad she will not see Dill, she soon realizes that school is just around the corner. The author is telling the reader that Scout is enjoys school because she finds it important to learn. Back in the 1930’s school was more of a privilege than something you just have to do. I feel that Scout is excited to go to school with her big brother “ Hours of wintertime had found me in the treehouse, looking over at the schoolyard, spying on multitudes of children through two-power telescope Jem had given me, learning their games, following Jem’s red jacket”(15).This text proves that Scout had been excited to go to school even before she was allowed to, showing that school has a great importance to her. When Jem lays down the rules explaining that Scout is not allowed to hang out with him and his friends Scout quickly becomes sad. “Jem was careful to explain that during school hours i was not to bother him”(16). Scout’s first day of school was a very confusing first day. Miss Caroline was teaching the class and asked scout to read the “Mobile Register”. This led me to wonder what is the Mobile Register?
Scout continues to read and is doing a very good job until Miss Caroline gets mad at Scout for reading so well. This page (17) confused me because why would a teacher ever get mad at a student for doing well in a class? Miss Caroline then tells scout that she should not be taught anymore at home. Does this mean that Scout is too smart for her age? This is a significant part of this chapter because scout starts to think differently about school and does not have the same attitude as she did before. Another day goes by and And when Miss Caroline tells everyone to get out their lunch. The only person without their lunch is the poor child Walter Cunningham. Miss Caroline than offers Walter some money so he can go downtown and buy something for lunch. Walter quickly shakes his head and tell her no thank you. The class looks at Scout nudging her to say something about Walter and explain why he won’t take the money. Scout stands up and explains to Miss Caroline that the Cunninghams don’t take anything they can’t pay back. I am glad that the author Harper Lee includes this in the last pages to introduce the reader to Scout’s childhood innocence throughout the book. The theme childhood innocence is one of the most occurring devices that our Narrator Scout shows. She is still young in this chapter around the age six or seven and she still has no filter. That is why the theme “childhood innocence” is so important because it is seen over and over again in this story.